Is Venison Safe to Eat Amid Concerns of Chronic Wasting Disease?
As concerns over a potential link between chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer and a wasting disease similar to mad cow disease (BSE) circulate, many are questioning whether it is safe to eat venison. The truth is more nuanced, and certain precautions can ensure the safe consumption of deer meat.
Understanding TSEs and Prions
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are a group of rare, fatal neurological diseases that affect the brain and spinal cord. Prions, the proteinaceous infectious particles, are the causative agents of TSEs. While meat containing prions from the central nervous system, certain lymphoid organs, and the spinal cord can be unsafe to consume, proper preparation can mitigate these risks.
When preparing venison, here are the key precautions you should follow:
Do not eat brain, spinal cord, eyes, or tonsils. Avoid using the terminal ileum as casing. Avoid harvesting meat close to the spinal column to avoid root ganglia. Do not split the spinal column to expose the spinal cord during butchering.The Safety of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
It's important to recognize that the species barrier is a significant challenge for TSEs to cross. While scrapie in sheep has existed for centuries with no evidence of transmission to humans, the same might be true for CWD in deer. Even with the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) epidemic in the UK, only a tiny fraction of those exposed developed the human form of the disease (vCJD).
The evidence suggests that while up to 400,000 cattle infected with BSE entered the human food chain, the number of actual cases of vCJD was only slightly over 200. This indicates that the risk, while real, is relatively low.
Managing Risk in Venison Processing
Understanding that not every deer is infected and that a small percentage may carry CWD, it's crucial to follow safe processing practices:
Avoid cutting the deer down the spine to minimize contamination risk. Do not include brain, eyes, teeth, spleen, and spinal column in your processing. Focus on cutting the meat away from the central nervous system and lymphoid organs.By adhering to these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the risk of consuming potentially contaminated meat.
Conclusion
While concerns about CWD are valid and should be addressed, the reality is that the overall risk is manageable through proper precautions. Venison can be a safe and nutritious part of your diet. Stay informed and follow best practices to ensure the safety of the meat you consume.